Victoria Z: The Custom Wooden Speed Boat That Sets a New Standard

Some boats are defined by their specifications. VICTORIA Z is defined by the relationship behind her.

Built in close collaboration with an engaged husband-and-wife team, this project reflects a shared commitment to pushing every detail further—guided by trust, experience, and a clear understanding of what’s possible.

The result is a 35-foot custom wood composite dayboat that embodies that partnership at every level—refined, purposeful, and executed without compromise.

What’s Under the Hood

Twin 427 Ford Cobra motors built by Sterling Performance push 1,100 horsepower through a pair of Arneson ASD-6 surface drives and 5-blade racing propellers. The 49-inch rudders wear a gunmetal finish, set against stainless-steel spoon exhausts and the deep grain of a hand-finished wooden hull.

Michael Peters Yacht Design handled the exterior — tasked with blending raw performance with the timeless lines that only wood can produce. The Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) hull they developed improves both handling and performance, making Victoria Z quicker through turns and more confident at speed.

Specs: 35 feet, 8’6″ beam, 9,000 lb displacement, twin 427 Ford Cobras producing 1,100 HP combined.

The Details You Have to Look Twice to See

What separates Van Dam boats from other fast wooden boats — and there aren’t many — is what happens beneath the surface level of beauty.

• A frameless windscreen that keeps the low profile clean and uninterrupted
• A bow thruster for close-quarters control in tight docks and marinas
• CZone digital switching for complete customization of every electrical component and lighting setup
• A hand-carved dash — not CNC-machined, hand-carved
• Compound laminations on the deck built for both structural integrity and visual depth
• An engine hatch that opens horizontally rather than lifting — a detail most people won’t notice until they’re told to look for it

That last point is worth dwelling on. The best custom wooden boat building doesn’t announce itself. It reveals itself over time, to people who know where to look.

Currently Available for Purchase

Victoria Z is currently available for purchase — an extraordinary opportunity to own one of the world’s finest wooden boats. Opportunities like this appear rarely, if ever. Contact us to inquire.

Commission Your Own

If you’d rather commission a custom wooden speed boat of your own, we’d love to have that conversation. Start with the Concept Phase or reach out directly — we’ll walk you through the process from first conversation to launch day.